FEI has introduced what it says is a revolutionary, high-throughput, cryo transmission electron microscope (TEM) that combines high-throughput sample handling with state-of-the-art electron optics
FEI's new Titan Krios transmission electron microscope provides fast, fully-automated three-dimensional data about biological molecules and macromolecular complexes.
Designed specifically for the needs of cellular and structural biologists, the all-new Titan Krios TEM enables visualisation of intricate interactive mechanisms of individual proteins and molecular machines within the three-dimensional architecture of living cells.
"Traditional two-dimensional imaging techniques simply can't reveal the full complexity of biological cells.
"Cryo-Tem provides a unique technique delivering critical detailed information about macromolecular machines and their localization and dynamics within cells," explained Matthew Harris, vice president of FEI's nanobiology division.
"Now we are even at the point of visualising parts of fundamental biological processes down to the molecular level.
"This capability has the potential to further the understanding of biological pathways in significant disease fields such as cardiovascular disease or cancer".
The Titan Krios is ideal for advanced, high-resolution, dual-axis cryo electron tomography of frozen hydrated cells and cell organelles, single particle analysis and 2D electron crystallography.
Based on the Titan platform, FEI says the Titan Krios delivers superb stability and imaging with the flexibility of selecting optimum acceleration voltages between 80 and 300kV.
The Titan Krios also features robotic, contamination-free auto-loading of up to 12 frozen samples and 24x7 operation due to liquid nitrogen auto fill systems.
Finally, its environmental instrument enclosure provides optimal thermal and acoustic shielding reducing installation and operating requirements.
Titan Krios was developed in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany.
Professor Wolfgang Baumeister, director of the institute, is a globally-acclaimed leader in life science research.
"Proteomic studies have yielded detailed lists of proteins present in the cell.
"Comparatively little is known, however, about how these proteins interact and are spatially arranged within the 'functional modules' of the cell: that is, the 'molecular sociology' of the cell", commented professor Baumeister.
"This gap is now being bridged by using emerging experimental techniques such as single-particle cryo-electron microscopy.
"The Titan Krios, the latest generation of electron microscopes, can enable us to view those protein complexes in action within cells, providing unprecedented insights into protein interaction networks".
FEI will formally launch the Titan Krios this week at the Biophysical Society Meeting (2-6 February 2008) at the Long Beach Convention Center in California.
It will also be featured at an upcoming Frontiers in Microscopy symposium at the Bavarian Academy of Science in Munich, Germany, on April 15.
The joint scientific meeting is being co-organised by FEI and the Max Planck Institute.
